Stockholders Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Changes in Company's Issued and Outstanding Common Shares

The following table represents changes in our Company’s issued and outstanding common shares for the periods indicated. We completed a two-for-one stock split on January 20, 2017. All share and per share data has been retroactively restated on a post-split basis.

	Years Ended December 31,
amounts in thousands	2016		2015		2014
Beginning balance		28,862		28,562		28,396
Vested stock grants		220		254		118
Employee stock purchase plan		42		42		38
Stock options exercised		—		4		10
Ending balance		29,124		28,862		28,562

Amount and Nature of Net Assets Restricted from Payment of Dividends

The amount and nature of net assets that are restricted from payment of dividends as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are presented in the following table:

	As of December 31,
amounts in thousands	2016		2015
Restricted net assets:
NIC and NSIC:
Fixed maturities at fair value (amortized cost: 2016, $9,820; 2015, $9,950)	$	10,690	$	11,277
Short term investments, at fair value		290		290
Cash		7,168		6,208
Total NIC and NSIC ⁽¹⁾	$	18,148	$	17,775
NHUK:
Fixed maturities at fair value (amortized cost: 2016, $457,225; 2015, $458,558)	$	452,053	$	448,666
Short term investments, at fair value		63,729		71,320
Cash		—		3,262
Total NHUK ⁽²⁾	$	515,782	$	523,248
Total Restricted Net Assets	$	533,930	$	541,023

(1) - The restricted net assets for NIC and NSIC primarily consist of fixed maturities on deposit with various state insurance departments. The cash as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, as presented in the table above, was on deposit with a U.K. bank to comply with the regulatory requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority for the underwriting activities of the U.K. Branch.

(2) - The restricted net assets for NHUK consists of fixed maturities and cash held in trust for the benefit of syndicate policyholders and short term investments primarily consisting of overseas deposits in various countries with Lloyd's to support underwriting activities in those countries.